Manufacture of tubes



i (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 1. J. ROBERTSON.

MANUPAGTURE OP TUBES.

No. 416,077. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

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J. ROBERTSON. MANUFAGTURB 0F TUBES.

- (N o Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ROBERTSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, COUNTY OF \VAR\VIOI{, ENGLAND.

`IVIANUFACTU RE OF TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,077, dated November26, 1889. Application filed February 26, 1889. Serial No. 301,286. (-Nomodel.) Patented in England April 4, 1888, No. 5,018.

To all whom t 11i/ay concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of Birmingham, in the county oflVarwick, England, have invented a certain new and useful ImprovedMethod of and Means for Making Seamless Tubes, Tube-Blanks, and LikeSeam less Tubular Articles, (for which I have obtained a patent in GreatBritain and Ireland, No. 5,018, dated April 4, 1888,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates, mainly, to the manufacture of seamless metaltube-blanks and tubes and like seamless metal tubular hollowarticles-such as boiler-dues, pipe-coupling rings or sockets, broad rimsof pulleys oi; rolls, and parallel and tapering articles, such as forshot and shell; and it consists in certain improved means formanufacturing the same. It is no part of my invention Y to use any ofthese new and improved means or apparatus for making tubes out of whatis usually designated soft metals such as lead and tinthat have thedistinguishing' feature from other metals of not hardening by compres#sion or by being hammered in 'a cold state.

My invention consists, mainly, in the combination, in an apparatus formaking and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollowarticles or shells, of a die having a forming bore or seat, a 'fixedholder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die and act upon abillet or on a tube-blank therein, a motor connected with the stem ofthe mandrel, whereby the latter is impelled forward in the die, a heador support formed to support the inner end of the billet or blank whileit is being acted on by the mandrel, and means for giving said head orsupporta movement which is synchronous with but slower-than that of themandrel, the mandrel and head moving in the same direction, so that themandrel recedes as the head advances, the receding movement of the headbeing regulated according to the nature of the material being treated,so that the holding-up pressure of said head allows the inner end ot thebillet to recede before the man` drei at about the speed of thedisplacement of the metal by the mandrel, and at the same time preventsbodily endwise movement or displacement ot' the entire billet or blank,including that portion which may have been formed or laid up to thewalls of the die, so that the tube cannot slip endwise While it is beingformed. The said synchronous and relativelyslow receding movement of thesupportinghead may be produced by various means, several of which arehereinafter described. y

The invention also consists in certain improvements in the constructionof the die in which the billets or blanks are formed, and, iinally, inthe improved method of making tubes from billets of metal and drawingout tube-blanks, tubular articles, tbc., by placing the metal billet ortube-blank in a long die, causing the mandrel to move forward throughthe billet or tubeblank, and at the same time holding up the billet ortube-blank by a supporting-head which recedes synchronously with theadvancing movement of the mandrel, but ata slower rate.

Throughout my explanation I designate a solid piece of metal, or onewith a small central hole in it, to be operated upon, as also a thickcast or hammered ring of metal to be operated upon, a billetg7 a pieceof metal partially formed into a tube and open at both ends atube-blank, a inished hollow article ot' a length double that of itsdiameter or longer and open at both ends I designate a tube; a hollowarticle open at both ends and of a length more than once and less thantwice its diameter I designate a tubular article, and a hollow articlewith a closed end a shell.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, Figure l is a front end elevation of a die which I use-in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of thesame, showing the position of the parts at the commencement of thetube-forming operation. Fig. .3 represents a section similar to Fig. 2,showing the parts at the end of the operation. Fig. el is a rearelevation of a die having a hexagonal form internally. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation, and Figs. 6 and 7 sectional plans, of a modification of thedie. Fig. S is a front elevation, Fig. 9 is a rear elevation, and Fig.10 a sectional plan, of a die made in three sect-ions.

Fig. l1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 12 a sectional plan, of anotherdie made in threesections. Fig. 13 is a side viewof one section of TOOv4`stem-rod may be variously formed, and under- V,one form madeinternally conical or cupli4 and 15.

,anfdhousing rwith its gearing.

,are detail views thereof. tional elevation, and Fig. 30 a plan view, of

a die of slightly-different form. Fig. 13 represents a sectional view ofthe die shown in Fig. 13 placed in its container. Fig. 14 is a sideexternal elevation, and Fig. 15 also a side elevation, partly insection, of the operating hydraulic cylinders and rams. Fig. 16 is anend elevation of the hydiaulic cylinders, parts being in section. Fig.17 is an after end elevation of the die-container. Fig. 18 is an endelevation of the ram cross-head, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 14. Fig. 19is aview on the line 3 3, Fig. 14. Fig. 2O represents a topview of amodified form of the machine shown in Figs. Figs. 21 and 22 arelongitudinal ,sectional views thereof. Fig. 23 is a transfverse.sectional view of this machine. Fig. 24

is an end elevation of the die-containin g frame Fig. 26 is a similarview with the latter removed, and showing the parts open. Fig. 25 is asectional plan view of a die made in independently hinged or pivotedsections. Figs. 27 and 28 Fig. 29 is a secan arrangement of mechanismfor actuating the mandrel. l

VIt is a part of my invention to employ two loperating-mandrels,stem-rods, or operatingbars, to be actuated mechanically or by pistonsat each end of the dies. In carrying out this arrangement by hydraulicmeans I connect both hydraulic cylinders by stays to the die-contain er,and use the second ram or stemrod `from it, with a suitable head, toabut against the smaller end of the billet, which shaped to abut againstand conically shape the end of the billet against the action of themandrel for shaping up the closed ends of ,tubular articles-such as shotand shell-for holding up the end of the billet partly against thetube-mandrel to prevent the metal at the center breaking off as themandrel comes through it, and for exerting and regulating a degree ofpressure on the after end of the billet to help solidify the metal andprotect it against being overstrained tensely, part-icularly in parallellong-t-ube dies. The said second ram or stem-rod may also be used as areturn motion for pushing back the ram of the main cylinder andobviating the use of a return-motion cylinder and ram.

l, Fig. 1 is a front end elevation on its side7 and Flg. 2 a sectionalplan, of a longdie A, also formed in halves 2 and 3, in which I show,applied my new and improved means of forming parallel tube-blanks B'out of solid billets of steel, or out of billets formed with an ini-`tiatory small guiding-hole in them, also suited for forming tube-blanksout of steel heated to a soft state. If the billets are used with asmall hole in them, this may be filled with asbestus, graphite, or otherheat-resistin g and lubricating materials to lubricate the man drels andtend to keep the same in a central position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, G represents an after abutting andholding-up stem-rod for supporting the after end of the billet B or of atube-blank or shell when operated upon. This rod is preferably operatedby an after hydraulic ram, and has, by preference, a conical hollow orcup-shaped siem-rod G' formed in it or socketed onto it, and forming, asshown, an easy-working fl-t on its external diameter for the internalbore of the die AG. On the stem-rod head G', I exert such a lesserdegree of force than is exerted by the mandrel D on the billet B, so asto allow said stem-rod head to recede as it is stretched out by thepassage of the mandrel D through it, so that by this partial recedingand holding-up action of the stem-rod head G', combined with thefrictional hold of the metal of the billetB on the inner surface of thedie A, and by the die being made slightly conical at its forward end, asshown, the metal of the billet B is prevented from being moved backwardin the die bodily by the force of the mandrel. The abutting, resisting,or holding-up action of the stem-rod G and its head G' is regulated tosuch a degree as to prevent the metal from being squirtcd out at theAfront end of the die, and at the same time to allow the billet tostretch out into the tube-blank or tube B' by a receding action on thestem-rod head G under such a degree of resisting pressure as to causethe mandrel to pierce it, but not to break the walls of the tube-blankcrosswise, and thus allow the passage of the mandrel to properly stretchout the billet B to its after end into a tube-blank B', as shown in Fig.3. For this action I prefer to use a hydraulic cylinder to operate thisbillet-holding-u p stemrod head G', and by loading a safety escapewatervalve or other water-escape equivalent connected .to the water-cylinderI provide a handy means of regulating the degree of resisting pressureon the holding-up stem-rod G and its head G', which degree of pressurewill vary to a considerable extent, according to the kind, quality, orcondition of the metal being operated upon. The resisting pressureexercised on the stem-rod head G' must always be less than thatexercised on the mandrel D, and may be regulated automatically. If, forexample, a mandrel in piercing aheat ed soft steel billet from the solidby this modification of die exerts a force of twenty tons to the squareinch of surface on its cross-area, as hereinbefore referred to, aresisting pressure of about one-half of this pressure, or ten tons tothe square inch of the cross-area of the die, has to be exercised on theafter abuttingreceding stem-rod head G' to allow it to recede and at thesame time to effect the piercing of the billet B.

Although the mode of operation necessarily varies under differentworking conditions, I prefer generally the following mode: Theholding-up stem-rod and its piston-shaped stem-rod head G' are broughtforward to the positionv shown in the die A in Fig.

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the square inch.

2 by the operating hydraulic cylinder, the head G thus holding the frontend of the billet B about Hush with the mouth of the die A. Theescape-valve of the said cylinder should be of a large area to allow thecontained water in the hydraulic cylinder to escape quickly and exert apressure on the end of the billet of metal of, say, ten tons to Theentering-guide C for the mandrel being' in its position, the mandrel Dis then pushed into the metal of the billet and pushes out the afterstein-rod G in part of its course forward by the intervening mass ofmetal of the billet B. Then after all the metal is formed into thetubewblank B and pressed up to the walls ot' the die A6 the mandrelenters the cup-shaped stein-rod head G and pushes the latter out of thedie. The altered position of the mandrel D and after stem-rod head G, asalso the in part altered position of the mass of material now shown inthis way formed into a tubeblank B', are shown in Fig. 3, the motions ofthe mandrel D, after mass of the tube-blank, and of the after stem-rod Gbeing as indicated by the arrows on said figure.

The regulation of the receding motion of the after or holding-upstem-rod G by the outiiow of water from an operatinghydraulic cylinder,either by a safety-valve loaded to a certain degree of resistance, asdescribed, orby regulating the outiiow of the Water by widening ornarrowing the outfiow of the water from its operating hydrauliccylinder, (the arrangement of which is to be hereinafter showin) may beregarded as a resisting` frictional means of so regulating the recedingaction of the rod G, and which can be effected by the frictioiial holdof hard bodies, either by clamping the rod G itself by a brake inrectilinear brake form, or by the intervention of cog-wheel or othergear by a brake-Wheel and brake, which can be carried out in many ways.The backward motion of the rod G before the after end of the billet canalso be regulated in the exact degree required relatively to the inwardmotion of the mandrel by cog-wheel or other positive gear to suit theproportions of the billet being operated upon and the cross-area of themandrel used.

V Thus in a billet of double the cross-sectional -onal or any other formthat can be readily given to either the die or mandrel.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of a die AG, internally of a hexagonalform, with a billet B in it, shown as pierced with a round hole, the diebeing' in halves and suited to fit the containerE to facilitate readyinterchange of the same.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, and Fig. G a sectional plan, of amodification of a form of my 7o taper die A in halves, in which I showan after abutting stem-rod G and its head G for holding up the metalbillet B to the operation of the mandrel D, as described in connectonwith Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4. It is also part of my invention to use thisrod G and its head G for making tubes and tubular articles inconjunction with my improved taper dies. In this example I show it usedfor a purpose other than making ordinary tube-blanks or tubes-namely,tubular close-ended articles or shells-which application of thisabutting or billet-holding-up ram is also part of my invention. Thecloseended tubular article it is here shown as applied to is a steelblank for forming a shell-blank or military shell. I am aware thatwithout this after abutting and shaping adjustable stem-rod and stem-rodhead G (in part) similar dies of a parallel form, and also dies with atapering or rounded mouth end at which the mandrel enters, have beenused for making articles with one closed end and military-shell blanksand shells out of plates and at round blanks with closed ends variouslyshaped, an d for making military hollow shot also out of solid billetsof hot soft metal bysuccessive punching operations; but

this part of my invention is designed to effect and form shell-blanks ormilitary shells and like close-ended articles out to its full internaldiameter required from solid billets out of hot metal at one operation,which is a great advantage'. The taper die AG, Figs. 5 and 6, placed ina container E, has a taper billet B of metal inserted into it, which isto be understood as a hot billet of steel to be shaped into Vamilitary-shell blank. The mandrel D is formed in one piece with itsstem-rod D', requiring for this to be formed on its acting point-pieceslightly tapered, as shown, and hardened. The mandrel -guide C isseparated from the front of the die A6 a short distance to allow thebillet B to be inserted freely. The after stem-rod G and head G are notallowed to recede in this example. Their use is to provide a bottomholding-up contrivance for the hollow conical redhead, to forge or shapethe point of the shell-blank B into a suitable conical form, and to pushthe shell out of the die quickly after it is formed. The mandrelstem-rod is shown provided with a stop-collar DWhich arrests theprogress of the mandrel inward at the proper distance by coming upagainst the guidebush C. The motions of the mandrels and of the flow ofthe metal on the front end of the shell are as indicated by the arrowsplaced onthe same, the position and shape of the shell-blank Bbeing,when the shaping action to the shell is accomplished, as shown inFig. 7.The rod G and its head G serve IOO IIO

also for setting' out the length the shell 3 is required in the die A6to be formed, and is applied also for pushing back the mandrel D.

' In case, also, of operating on like hollow articles with enlargedafter ends, the after stem-rod and its shaping-head G are used forpressing and shaping purposes, and it is part of my invention to usethese rods to operate mandrels also for shaping tubular articles.

There are practicable limits to the diameter of tubes, shells,tube-blanks, and other tubular articles producible in this way at oneoperation, as hereinbefore referred to, which may be generally fromabout one inch to eighteen inches in diameter, and such articles asboiler-fines or boiler-flue shells of, say, about three feet externaldiameter should be produced from annular billets or rings of, say, forthis size of boiler-fine, about eighteen inches long, three feetdiameter, and four inches thick, the size of a mass to produce, say, aboiler-flue of about seven feet long and half an inch thick. The die forthis purpose may be also of a conical internal form and of the samegeneral form as just described, but is used jvith two operatinghydraulic rams,

t the mandrel to be provided with a parallel or tapering tongue-pointsomewhat shorter than the length of the blank-ring to be operated uponand of about the diameter of or somewhat smaller than the internaldiameter of the blank or billet ring into which this round cylindricaltongue-point is made to enter and fill up the space inside thebilletring before the conical and operating part of the mandrel reachesthe billet, this tonguepoint of the mandrel being made into a iittingannular supporting or abutting holdingup head fitted onto the stem-rodof the after hydraulic cylinder, thus securing the mass of the ringagainst being pressed inward by the mandrel, while the stem-rod headused to assist the binding` action of the inwardly-tapering surface ofthe die can be so regulated by waterpressnre valves to give way andrecede before the mandrel while the annular billet tube.

is being forced out into a flue-tube blank or The after stem-rod may bealso modiied to enter the ring-billet to prevent it from being pressedinward.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation, Fig. J an after end elevation, and Fig.l0 a sectional plan, of a large-size taper die in three sections, A,Fig. lO showing, also, the container E, partly in section; also thebillet B and mandrel D in section, and also a mode of ixing themandrel-stem-rod guide C to the container E to guide the mandrel incentrally to the metal billets B of large diameters. This modificationis suited for cast or otherwise formed ring-billets of steel or othermetal suited for making tube-blanks for forming large diameters oftubes, which by this means is also a part of` my invention adapted inthis example for a cast billet-ring of steel B to be operated upon in ahot state, which is shown placed in the taper die A, which is in thisexample shown in three sections, with the mandrel D shown in itsposition ready to be forced through the billet and with its steinrod Dand guide C, showing, as heretofore referred to, how these are securedto the diecontainer E for large sizes, and. some exceptional forms ofdies for tubular articles of some forms. A rod-head G is also shown withan after stem-rod having a tapered point G2 formed on it to keep thering-formed billet B from being crushed inward by the action ofthemandrel D. The billet B indicates the size and form of this heatedcast-steel billet-ring as it is entered into the die A6, and the dottedlines B indicate its increased length and diminished thickness after themandrel is forced through it, which thereafter takes its tube-blank formB. The motions when the tube-blank is being formed are all as indicatedby the arrows placed on the man- Vdrel-stem rod D and on the afterstem-rod G and on the tube-blank B. In these large sizes the fore partof the billet flows outward, and the after end of the same, to someextent, flows inward, as indicated by the arrows. In the preparation oftheselarge-diameter tubeblanks an important use of .this process is toget the tube-blank round and to the right size internally for the afterdrauf'ing-ont process, and also to get the metal solidified at sametime, for which purpose alone the steel ring-billets B in a cast statewould otherwise urequire to be hammered. In another and somewhatmoditied form of this arrangement for making tube-blanks or tubes thedie A6 may be beveled in from both ends, and the holding-up annularafter stem-rod head formed into a conical or bulbous mandrel at itsworking-surface, the same as the main mandrel, and the sott metal of thebillet B in this way made to dow or squirt out at both ends of the die,and the tube removed from the die by taking out the die from its vseatin the container E, the die being formed in three parts, and when openedout allows the tube-blank B thus formed to be removed from it. Thisarrangement has the advantage of makingthe tube about alike in thicknessand diameter at both ends, and although left somewhat thicker in thecenter, this is more easily dealt with by ordinary after-finishingprocesses than when the thickest portion is at one end of the blank.

Fig. Il is a front elevation, and Fig. l2 a sectional plan, of asomewhat similar large die A6 to that just described, also shown inthree sections. A parallel ring-billet B is shown in Fig. 12 ready to bedrawn out into a tube-blank or tube; but in this example there are twomandrels D and II. The mandrel D is shown entering the front end of thedie, and the mandrel II is entering the rear end of the die, the twomandrels being of substantially the same form and diameter. The internalsurface of the die is shown of a slightly-tapering form, largest at thefront end, and has formed in it the step-grooves A2,

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to [ix the fore end of the mass of the shellB from tlowing out in eitherdirection. The two mandrels are pushed into the ring-billet Bsimultaneously to thin down its ends, the mandrel II eifecting thepurpose of an abutting stem-rod head G', at the same time acting in thebillet B as a mandrel, as well as to hold up the billet against theaction of lthe front mandrel D, and when the points of the two mandrelsD and H meet, as shown,the pressure of the after hydraulic ram operatingthe mandrel II is released, and the frontmandrel D thereafter is causedby its forward movement to push the after mandrel H back and draws outthe ring-billet into a tubeblank B, as indicated in Fig. 13,`with themain part of its length, as shown, nearly parallel, the motions of boththe mandrels D and H until they meet, as described, being indicated byarrows o, placed on their stemrods D and H', the after motion of themandrel I-I and its stem-rod. H being indicated by the arrows e. Fig. 13shows a section of one half of the die A6 detached.

Fig. 14E is a side external elevation, and Fig. 15 also a sideelevation, partly in section, of my new and improved combination ofhydraulic cylinders and rams for operating these new and improvedlong-tube dies, hereinbefore referred to, which arrangement of hydrauliccylinders and rams and combination with a forward and after ramJ and Rare part of my said invention. The form of the internal die A and itsmandrel D and stem-rod D is tapering', the die being placed in acontainer E; but either of the dies above describedmay be used as a partof the organized machine shown in Figs. Hand 15. There is nothing new orpeculiar in the hydraulic cylinders of themselves, and they require nodetailed description. The main hydraulic cylinder I is shown with itsram J connected to the mandrel-holder J 2, into which the'inandrelstem-rod D is inserted, and

which, with its bulb mandrel end D, is shown ready to form a tube-blank.This main cylinder I has xed on its top side the small hydrauliccylinder Ii, fitted with a ram L, shown with a suitable arrangement ofgear for pulling back the main hydraulic ram J-viz., a chain C2,connecting the cylinder K and ram J and passing over a pulley D2,carried by the ram L. The end elevation, Fig. 16, of these cylindersfurther illustrates their arrangement, as also of the stays M M', whichare shown binding the main-cylinder ram and the die-container Etogether.

Fig. 17 is an after end elevation of the diecontainer Il, showing thepositions of its main stays M and M and the snugs E4 for the same.

Fig. 18 -is an end elevation of the ram crosshead J 3, showing thecylinder and containerstays M and M and slide-bars N and N of thecross-head in section, with its covers N2 and N3 through the line 2 2 inFig. 14, showing, also, the saddle slide-piece of the ram cross-head J1placed in the slide-bars N and N. An after hydraulic cylinder P is shownconnected to the die-container E and main hydraulic cylinder I by themain stays M2 and M3, which are contin nations of the main stays M andM', so that this after hydraulic cylinder P P is bound in onemachinealong with main hydraulic cylinder I and the diecontainer E. The afterhydraulic cylinder P has cast with it a small pulling-back hydrauliccylinder Pp', which is fitted with a direct pulling-back ram Q, thecross-head Q of which is shown connected with side pullingback stays Q2in an ordinary way to the cross-head of the main after ram cross-head R,the whole constituting a new and improved arrangement of hydraulicmachines capable of performing the operations above described inconnection with Figs. 1 to 13a.

` The position of the rod G and head G (or mandrel stem-rod H', as thecase may be, when used in this machine) is shown by Fig. 15. Instead ofregulating the backward or receding motion of the stem-rod G byfrictional retard in g mean s-su ch as a retarding-brake-or bythrottling the escapeof water from a hydraulic cylinder, as describedmainly in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and Figs. 14 to 19 of mydrawings, said motion can with great advantagebe regulated in itsbackward movement automatically by devices connecting said rod to themandrel D or its motor, and it is part of my invention to operate thestem-rod G in this way. The motion backward of the stem-rod G isgenerally slower than the inward motion of the mandrel `and should havethe same relation to the motion of the mandrel that the cross-area ofthe mandrel bears to that of the die. For example, if the cross-area ofthe mandrel is one-half of the cross-area of the die, which is the bestproportion for making a tube-blank or tube which is double the length ofthe billet B, the stem-rod should recede or move backward one-half asfar as the mandrel moves forward. -It will be seen, therefore, that asaving of power is effected by so coupling the stem-rod G to theoperati11g-mandrel D. In carrying out this movement a new and improvedand still more important advantage is obtained by this means of makingthe motion back-V ward of the rod G slightly greater than the exactdegree required for the proportion of the cross-area of the tube-blank Bto the mandrel, as thereby, after the fore part of the tube-blank getsfixed on the walls of the die, as it immediately does (more or less)after the mandrel enters it, a degree of drawing action to thetube-blank B being formed is thereby imparted to it, which tends torelieve the mandrel from being so hard packed in the metal of thetube-blank at its greatest diameter as it otherwise would be if only theexact proportion of traverse were communicated to the stem-rod G, or wasso operated IOO IIO

backward by resisting friction or pressure on it. In this way a savingof wear on the mandrel is effected, and at the part where it ordinarilywears most, as also a savingfof wear effected by this means on theinternal surface of the die.

Fig. 2O is an external plan, and Fig. 21 a sectional side elevation` ofan arrangement of gear suited to obtain this result in one way, and inthis proportion of equal crossarea in the mandrel D shown used to thatof the tube-blank B shown made. I show in this example, in place of ahydraulic ram for operating the mandrel D, a strong cast-metal rack J,operated by a pinion J 5, the die and its container E, mandrel D, billetB, and rodhead G shown being the same as described with reference toFigs. 1 to 4. The after-operating hydraulic cylinders P and P and theirrespective rams R and Q are of the same general form as described inconnection with Figs. 14 to 19. In this example, however, the cross-areaof the top hydraulic cylinder-ram Q, as referred to, is made slightlyover one-half of that of the main after ram R, and the connectingarrangement of said ram with the motor (here shown as the rack J) is arod J 1, passed from said motor through an aperture formed in thedie-container E, and connected bythe cross-head Q2 and theconnecting-rods Q4 and Q5 to the ram crosshead Q. The backward motion ofthe ram Q is therefore at the same speed as the forward motion of themandrel D into the die. The water in the after cylinder P, as it ispressed out bythe motion of its ram R, (which is moved backwardly by theadvancing end ofthe billet,) is thus caused to Iiow out into the tophydraulic cylinder P through the connecting-pipe P2, (shown in Fig. 23,)and thus regulates back the speed of the stemrod G at slightly overone-half'of the distance in -the 'same time traversed inward by themandrel D. The position of the billet B relatively to the tube-blank Baft-er it is formed is as shown in Fig. 21, and the motions oftheseveral parts all as indicated by arrows, as also the direct-ion of theflow of the water Jfrom the lower to the upper after hydraulic cylinderP through the pipe P2. By relatively proportioning the mandrel to thedie and the operating speeds of the mandrel D and rod G any requireddegree of draw on any required proportion of tube-blank can readilybe'given to the tube-blank in this way. A safety-valve P3 is shownconnected with the hydraulic cylinder P, which, by means of the pipe P2,also serves as a safety-valve to the cylinder P.

All the hydraulic cylinders of this machine are designed to be operatedby pumps, by preference, through the intervention of a hy- `draulicaccumulater to produce quick movement to the mandrels and stem-rod headsG', the hydraulic cylinders, as shown, being suited fora pressure of twothousand pounds to the square inch of area of the same. A converse modeof effecting the same purposes would be by holding the. mandrelstationary and moving the die, with the billet contained in it, over themandrel by very similar arrangements of hydraulic cylinders to thosedescribed. This converse mode of working by imparting rectilinearmovement to the die by hydraulic cylinders or by rams or pistonsactuated by steam or other elastic fluid, or so actuated mechanically,is not, however, so generally convenient, and is not shown inthe'drawings. Pistons in a single form, or by two or more successivetandem pistons on the same rod, actuated by steam, air, or other fluid,can be used in much the same way as this hydraulic arrangement ofcylinders, hereinbefore shown and described, and by using` steam in away to require no accumulator other than a boiler. Any good mechanicalmeans of transmitting rectilinear motion to either the mandrels ordiessuch as by screws or by toothed pinion and rack-may have forcestored by the momentum of a fly-wheel, and in this way is quiteavailable for operating these new and improved dies in an effectivemanner, although not shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 29 I show a sectional elevation, and in Fig. 30 a plan view, ofan arrangement of mechanism for actuating the mandrel D and theholding-up stem-rod G, in which the receding movement of the rod G isentirely positive, all hydraulic mechanism being dispensed with. Themand rel is connected with a rack J, which is operated by a pinion J 5,as in Figs. 20, 21, and 22. A rod JG connects the rack J not with ahydraulic ram, but with another rack J10, which meshes with a pinion.112, mounted to rotate on a bearing in a frame J13, aiiixed to andmoving with the rod G. Said pinion meshes witha fixed rack J11, attachedto the supporting-frame of the machine. The movement imparted to therack J10 by the forward motion of the rack J causes the rack J10 torotate the pinion J12, the latter being thus caused to travel along thefixed rack J11 and move the rod G with it in the same direction that themandrel moves. The pinion J 5 is so proportioned relatively to thepinion J12 that the rod G is moved backwardly at half the speed of theforward movement of the mandrel. The mandrel D and the after holding-uphead G', moving synchronously but at different speeds, as hereinbeforedescribed, may also be used in making pipes of non-metallic plasticmaterial, such as clay, paper-pulp, &c.

For converting thick tube-blanks into thin tubes of larger diameter, anew and improved arrangement of parallel long die suited for being usedwith mandrels having rectilinear motion only, as described mainly inconnection with Figs. 14 to 19 of my drawings, and with Figs. 2O to 23,as also suited to be used in conjunction with revolving mandrels whichmay be operated by my modifications of fric- IOO IIO

tional driving skew-rolls for giving quick spiral motion to the mandrelsfor this purpose, or to be operated b y m y hydraulic revolving-mandrelmachine, (to be hereinafterl describcd,) consists, mainly, in revolvingthese long dies on axis as a quick means oi' closing them over thetube-blanks, and of the use of an inside .die for converting tube-blanksof smaller external diameter into thin tubes of larger eX- t-ernaldiameter by means of a hollow stemrod used as an internal die, as alsoof new and improved combinations with my holdingup and regulating afterstem-rod, as hereinbefore described.

Fig. 2-t is an end elevation. and Fig. 25 a sectional plan, of a new andimproved long die A'7 of this kind in two halves, which are adapted toclose on the tube-blank B by each half of the die being revolved orpartially revolved together on their turned trunnions A12 A12 on onehalf of the die A'1 and on the trunnions A14 A15 on the other hal-f, andthese trunnions are shown placed in the two die-containing frames E andE, the internal form of the die when closed and form of the hollowstem-rod G and of the tube-blank B being' shown operated upon insectional plan by Fig. 25, the out end of the tube-blank B shown beingoperated upon before being inserted into the die being expanded out ashort distance at its out end to the internal diameter of the main die 7before closed into it, the out end of the tube-blank B being thusroughly made out this shape to allow the mandrel D to enter into it,(shown with its stem-rod D broken off.) The die containing frames orhousings 9 have bush-bearings shown bored in them, an easy-working fitfor these trunnions of the die and into which the trunnions A12 of oneof the halves of the die A7 are shown placed, and similarly shownplaced-in same container-frames the trunnions A14 of thc other half ofsaid die, which halves are shown in end elevation in a closed positionin Fig. 24 and in an open position in Fig. 26, and their actuating'parts for the widening out of a'tube-blank or tube shown in section withthe hollow after stemrod G bored out to be used as au inside die and thetube-blank B shown placed in it, its stem-rod head G being shown turnedin an internal conical form and the directionof its motion as indicatedby the arrows placed upon it. The hollow stem-rod G is moved backautomatically along with the inward motion ofthe mandrel D in ananalogous way to that described in connection with Figs. 2O to 23, andat the same speed, thereby keeping always an equal distance between theinternal conical surface of the rod-head G and Ythe forward surface ofthe mandrel D, so that sition of the mandrel D and of the after stemrodG and its acting-head G', as also of the finished tube B2, being asindicated in the plan section of the bored-out part ot' the halves ofthe die A1, (shown by Fig. 27,) and the motion ofthe mandrel and afterhollow stem-rod, as indicated by the. arrows. It is part of my inventionto use this arrangement of die and after stem-rod along with a revolvingmandrel. The halves of the die A'r are easily retained closed in asecure way by having the tube-blank scat in samebrought round to nearlythe dead-centers in each half between their trunnion-axis A12 and A14,as shown by Fig. 2G. The halves of the die are moved to and from saidpositions, and when closed are retained by the cog-wheels A16 and A11,keyed on the trunnions A12 and A14 of the halves of the die, and gearedtogether by the cog-wheels A18 and A12, and by this gear are held closedor opened out, as shown by Fig. 2o', in which position the tube B2 isremoved and a fresh tube-blank B inserted for a fresh operation. Thisnew and improved long die A7, from its quick and effective closingaction and free access when open for the insertion of asbestus or other.lubricant into it for the tube-blank moving along the die, isfverysuitable, and without or with the after stein-rod G, as shown, forwidening and drawing out hot steel tube-blanks with a revolving mandrelD from tube-blanks of about the same external diameter as that of thedie, by using` the main die only.

Fig. 28 is a sectional plan of the working portions of the halves of thedie A7, as shown, with a cam-shaped revolving mandrel D entered intosame, and with a plain after stemrod G shown in it suited to be retardedby a frictional contact-breaking retarding action. Titha heavy stem-rodG its inertia at starting on its backward motion and the resistancecaused by its own weight resting on the lo wersurface of the die aresufiicient means for regulating the action of the drawing-out hot steeltube-blanks into light tubes.

l do not claim `in this application the in vention shown in my Britishpatent, No. 15,752 of 1884, nor in my pending application for LettersPatent of the United States, filed July 7, 1887, Serial No. 243,617,said United States application showing the inventionV for which thelast-named British patent was granted.

I claiml. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, thecombination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a mandrel formed toenter said die and elongate a billet or blank therein, means for'forcing the mandrel into the die, and a movable head or support movingsynchronously with the mandrel, but at a slower rate, and arranged tosupport the inner end of the billet or blank, whereby bodily move- IOOIIO

ment of the billet or blank by the die is prevented, as set forth.

2. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells,`the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder forsaid die, a mandrel formed to enter said die and act on a billet orblank therein, a motor connected with the stem of said mandrel, wherebythe latter is impelled forward, a movable or yielding head or supportformed to enter the die and bear against the inner end of a billet orblank, and means for resisting or retarding the receding motion of thesaid head or support, as set forth.

As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks,tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, the combinationof a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrelformed to enter said die, a motor for said mandrel, a movable oryielding head or support formed to bear on the inner end of a billet orblank therein, and a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram which isconnected withsaid head and provided with an outlet for the escape ofwater, as set forth.

4. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes,

tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, A

the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder forsaid die, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a motor for said mandrel,a movable or yielding head or support formed to bear on the inner end ofa billet or blank therein, a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram whichis connected with said head, a water-outlet for said cylinder, and meansfor regulating or adjusting the escape of water through said outlet, asset forth.

5. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, thecombination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for saiddie, a .mandrel formed to enter said die and act on a billet or blanktherein, a motor connected with the stem of said mandrel, whereby thelatter is impelled forward, a movable head or support formed to enterthe die and bear against the inner end of the billet or blank, and aconnection between the said support and the mandrel, whereby the supportis caused to recede synchronously with the advance of the mandrel, butat a slower rate, as set forth.

6. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tubes,tubular articles, tube-blanks, and hollow articles or shells, thecombination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for saiddie, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a motorforsaid mandrel, amovable or yielding head or supportI formed to bear on thc inner end ofa billet or blank therein, a primary hydraulic cylinder containing a ramwhich is connected with said head, a secondary hydraulic cylinderconnected with the primary cylinder to receive the water from thelatter, a ram or plunger in the secondary cylinder, whereby theadmission of water thereto is regulated, and a connection between saidram or plunger and the mandrel, whereby the ram is moved synchronouslywith the mandrel, as set forth.'

7. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, thecombination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for saiddie, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a second hydraulic cylinderK,having a ram L, and a connection, substantially as described, betweenthe rams J and L, whereby the ram J and the mandrel are retracted by theoperation of the ram L, as set forth.

8. As an improvement in apparat us for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, adie having a forming bore or seat and composed of separable longitudinalsections mounted on independent centers and capable of swinging on saidcenters to open and close the die, combined with a mandrel formed toenter the die, a motor for said mandrel, and a yielding support or headforlned to enter the die and bear on the inner end of a billet or blanktherein, as set forth.

0. As an improven'ient in apparatus for making and drawing outtubeblanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, adie having a forming bore or seat composed of separable longitudinalsections, each having trunnions, combined with fixed bearings orframessupporting said trunnions and permitting the said die-sections tooscillate, as set forth.

l0. As an in'lprovement in apparatus for making and drawing outtube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, adie having a forming bore or seat composed of separable longitudinalsections, each having trunnions, combined with fixed bearings or framessupporting the trunnions and permittin g the said die-sections -tooscillate, gears aliixed to said trunnions, and intermediate gears connectin g said trunnion-gears, whereby the latter may be simultaneouslyrotated, as set forth.

11. The improved method hereinbefore described of making tubes frombillets and of drawing out tube-blanks and tubular articles, tbc., thesame consisting in placing the billet in a long die, forcing a mandrelinto or through the billet or tube-blank while in said die, and at thesame time holding up the inner end of the billet or tube-blank by asupport which recedes synchronously with the advancing mandrel, but at aslower rate,

IOO

IOS

whereby the. unformed end or mass of the to thisspeeiicatiominthepreseneeof twosubbillet or blank is allowed to recede before soribingWitnesses, this 28th day of January, Io the mandrel at about the speedof the dis- 1889.

, placement of the material by the mandrel 5 and the drawn or formedportion of Jshe tube JAMES ROBER'I SON' is laid up to the Walls of thedie Without end- Vtnesses: Y Wise-slipping motion thereon. WILLIAMROBERTSON, In testimony whereof I have signed my name VILLIAM LINDSAY.

